Guzmania plant named Tutti Frutti

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named Tutti Frutti, characterized by the combined features of multi-colored bracts, with the top bracts varying from green at the sheaths over orange and red, to a black tip. The bottom bracts have a green tip and a red lower half. The completely green leaf sheaths are well formed when fully grown and are closely linked at the base. The inflorescence lasts over six months.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Guzmaniasquarrosa, referred to by the cultivar name Tutti Frutti. The genusGuzmania is within the family Bromeliaceae.

Tutti Frutti is a product of a planned breeding program conducted inLaarne, Belgium. The program evolved from the importation by theinventor of seeds of several different cultivars of Guzmania squarrosafrom Ecuador. When grown out to flower, several plants were selected fortheir beautiful flowers, and were subsequently crossed with cultivars ofthe species Guzmania minor.

Tutti Frutti was originated by the inventor from a hybridization made inthe program in Laarne, Belgium. The female parent was an unnamedGuzmania minor species identified as "red". The male parent of TuttiFrutti was an unnamed variety of Guzmania squarrosa.

Tutti Frutti was discovered and selected by the inventor after floweringin early 1989. The new cultivar was thereafter asexually reproduced fromoffshoots under the supervision of the inventor in a controlledenvironment in Laarne, Belgium. The offshoots were rooted, with theresulting plantlets being detached from the mother plant and potted upin an appropriate growing mixture.

Horticultural examination of plants so propagated has demonstrated thatthe combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Tutti Fruttiare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction, which can be effected by offshoots as described, or byknown tissue culture techniques. The new cultivar cannot be propagatedfrom its own seed.

Tutti Frutti has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly when grown underdifferent conditions of temperature, light, and other determiningfactors, without, however, any variation in genotype. The followingobservations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown inLaarne, Belgium under greenhouse conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Tutti Frutti which in combinationdistinguish this Guzmania as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Tutti Frutti has multi-color bracts. The upper bracts vary from greenat the sheaths over orange and red, to a black tip. The bottom bractshave a green tip and a red colored lower half.

2. The lower leaves are primarily dark green in color and provideexcellent contrast with the sturdy flower cone.

3. The inflorescence is long lasting (over six months).

4. The fully grown leaf sheaths are well formed and closely linked atthe base. The leaf sheaths are completely green.

The accompanying color photographic drawings show the inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Tutti Frutti as clearly as possible.

The photo on the first sheet comprises a top perspective view of asubstantial part of a plant of Tutti Frutti in bloom.

The photo on the second sheet comprises a top view showing theinflorescence in much greater detail. The colors are as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Tutti Frutti can be compared in certain respects to the commerciallyavailable Guzmania cultivar Denise. For comparably grown plants, TuttiFrutti is bigger than Denise, and Tutti Frutti is further distinguishedfrom Denise by its larger flowers and multi-color bracts.

In the following description, color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determiend atLaarne, Belgium.

Classification:

Botanical.--Guzmania minor×squarrosa, cv. Tutti Frutti.

PLANT

Form: Rosette.

Height: About 50 cm when plant is in bloom. The leaf rosette has aheight of about 35 cm.

Diameter: Approximately 85-100 cm when plant is in bloom.

Growth habit: Stemless.

Method of propagation: By offshoots or tissue culture.

Foliage:

Quantity.--Some 28 to 30 leaves form a close rosette.

Size.--The fully grown leaves have a width of about 5 cm and a length of60 cm.

Shape.--Linear with a pointed tip.

Surface texture.--The leaf surface is ribbed and shiny, both top andbottom surfaces.

Color.--The top surface is approximately 147A and the bottom surface isapproximately 147B.

Leaf sheaths.--Well formed and closely linked at the base, having alength of 9-14 cm up to the narrowing, and a width of 8-10 cm. Thenewest leaves (in the center of the rosette) bear a fine purple stripedpattern.

BRACTS

Quantity: Some 28 bracts are regularly spread along the length of andcompletely surround the flower shaft.

Size: Bracts at the bottom of the flower shaft have a length of about 40cm and a width of 5.5 cm; bracts near the top of the flower shaft have alength of 10 to 20 cm and a width of 7 cm at the base.

Shape: At approximately one-third of the length from the top of thebracts, the leaf blade curls outwards.

Color: The bracts of the lower half of the flower vary in color from thegreen sheaths (152B) over a fire red color (33B), to a cherry red (45C),and ending in a brown black tip (200A), whereas the top bracts vary fromthe green leaf sheaths (152C) to a fire red color (33B).

FLOWERS

Borne: Some 9 to 11 headlike subflower systems are embedded, eachseparately, in the axils of one of the top bracts. Individual flowerscling to a fibrous receptacle.

Blooming habit: Flowers bloom approximately 16 weeks after induction.Single flowers bloom only one day, and the total inflorescence (from thefirst to last flower) lasts approximately twelve (12) weeks.

Quantity: About 16 to 21 single flowers in each subflower system.

Size: The entire flower system (all subflowers together), which is partof the inflorescence, has a length of approximately 13 cm and a diameterof 8 cm. Each subflower system typically has a length of 4.5 cm and awidth of 3 cm. Each individual flower is about 4.5 to 5 cm in length.

Shape: Straight in the subflower system.

Color: The bract of each flower has a fine striped red transparent colorat the top half (41B) and a transparent white (150B) at the bottom.

Sepals: Three in number, fasciated at the base and membranous (4D).Sepals have a length of approximately 2 cm and a width of approximately3 mm.

Petals: There are three in number, fasciated with each other and withthe 6 stamens. The petals have a length of approximately 2.5 cm and awidth of approximately 4 mm. Petal color is 9A.

Seed capsule: A reddish brown pyxidium of about 3 cm is formed.

Reproductive organs: There is one pistil and 6 stamens; typical in shapeand color.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Guzmania plant named TuttiFrutti, as illustrated and described.